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You only get one chance to make a great first impression, which is important to consider when planning a presentation. The way you start your presentation should grab your audience’s attention, establish your credibility, and project your confidence. Some simple strategies can help you to make sure that your next presentation gets off to a great start.

Steps

Method1

Setting the Stage

1

Stand tall and confident. Take a moment to do a quick posture check before you walk out in front of your audience. If you are slouching, you may seem like you lack confidence. Stand up as straight and tall as you can to ensure a confident posture. Keep standing tall as you walk out in front of your audience and begin your presentation.[1]

2

Arrange your notes and other materials. A well-organized podium will help you avoid any unnecessary fumbling as you speak. Before you start your presentation, you should take a moment to lay out your notes and any other materials that you will need. Before you begin your presentation, distribute any handouts that your audience will need.[2]

3

Make eye contact with your audience. Making eye contact with your audience during a presentation makes you appear more authoritative and confident. Before you even begin your presentation, you should make eye contact with someone near the back of the room and hold it for a few seconds as you give your introduction. Then, continue to make eye contact with audience members as you present your material.[3]

4

Skip the usual introduction. One of the most boring ways to start a presentation is to tell the audience your name. If you want to make sure that they know your name, put it on the first slide of your visual aid or at the top of a handout that you distribute. Just don’t waste your precious opening by saying, “Good morning. My name is…”[4]

5

Jump right in. It might seem normal to start your presentation with an icebreaker or with some information that does not have anything to do with your presentation. But starting this way will waste time and cause your audience to lose interest. To get your audience engaged, you need to give them what they came for right away. Start your presentation immediately to make sure that you don’t lose your audience’s attention.[5]

Method2

Choosing a Great Opening Line

1

Tell a story. Stories are one of the best ways to grab your audience’s attention because we all love a good story. Use a relevant story about your personal experience, an anecdote from your research, or an invented analogy to introduce your subject. Keep your story under 90 seconds and then continue with your presentation.[6]

2

Ask your audience a question. Inviting your audience to participate in your presentation from the start will get them interested in your subject. Asking your audience a question is a great way to get to get them involved. You don’t even have to ask a question that they need to answer. You could ask a rhetorical question meant to stimulate their thought processes and prepare them for the rest of your presentation.[7]

3

Say something shocking. Sharing a shocking statistic or fact will grab your audience’s attention and get them interested to hear more. By sharing something shocking with your audience, you will get them to care about your topic within the first 15 seconds of your presentation. Just make sure that you are honest. Don’t make up a statistic or bend the truth about something just to have something shocking to share.[8]

4

Share a meaningful quote. Kicking off your presentation by sharing a meaningful quote by a famous or respected person will also set your presentation up for success. A well-chosen quote can serve to grab your audience’s attention, build your credibility, and introduce your subject. Just make sure that the quote you choose is relevant to your topic. Don’t choose a quote just because you like it.[9]

5

Use a visual aid. Showing your audience an interesting image can also get your presentation off to a great start. Select an image that is relevant to your presentation or at least one that has some symbolic value for your topic. Remember that your goal with an image should not be to simply provide a background for your presentation, your images should also help your audience understand your topic. Open with an image that will engage your audience and help them understand the big picture of your topic.[10]

Instead of an image, you could use a prop or some other physical object to get your audience interested in your topic.

You might also consider using a video to start your presentation. Just make sure the video is not too long or you may not have enough time to present your material.

Method3

Projecting Confidence with Your Voice and Words

1

Leave hedges out of your presentation. Hedging is when you second guess your authority by saying things like “I think,” “In my opinion,” “seems like” “kind of” and other wishy-washy statements. Hedging makes you seem less authoritative and less confident. Try to leave hedges out of your presentation, especially your opening. Instead, make bold authoritative statements in your introduction to show them that you are trustworthy.[11]

2

Ask questions that matter. Asking questions that you are going to answer right after or that are not really worthy of debate will also lead your audience to believe that you lack authority. It’s okay to ask a meaningful question or two during the opening to your presentation, just don’t overdo it. Keep questions thoughtful and to a minimum.[12]

3

Lower your voice at the end of sentences. Raising your voice at the end of a question is similar to asking a question. This simple change in pitch may lead your audience to conclude that you are uncertain about the claims that you are making. Instead of raising your voice at the end of your sentences, lower it at the end of your sentences. Lower your voice at the end of a sentence makes you seem more authoritative and confident.[13]

Community Q&A

If it's a class presentation, like a report on Mars' moon Phobos, I would start by asking an interesting question or stating an odd fact. For example, "Have you all heard of Mars? [pause] How about its moons? One of Mars' two moons is Phobos, names after the Greek god of Terror." If it is a business presentation, I would jump in with a BRIEF overview of what you are going to say, for example, "This quarter's sales were above projections, but our yearly average is still under goal."

Short Video: How to Start a Presentation

When starting a presentation, pick an opening line that catches your audience’s attention. You could tell a story or ask a question that relates back to your topic. You can also share a famous quote or a shocking fact to help build your credibility as a presenter. As you present, make eye contact with your audience to connect with them on a deeper level and to show your confidence in what you’re presenting. For more information on what phrases you should leave out or what tone of voice to use, continue reading below!

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Tips

Keep a glass of water handy in case your mouth gets dry while you are talking. A bottle of water will work too, but a glass is better because you won’t have to fumble with a lid.

Article Info

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Together, they cited 13 references.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 172,868 times.

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Co-authors: 16

Updated:

Views: 172,868

EL

Eva Leister

Sep 11, 2016

"It helped me a lot, as I got to know real ways to make a great opening on my presentation, including my partners and stop the boring starting line. It all happened because of your site you have set up with great efforts to give us knowledge. Thanks a lot."..." more

DM

Daniel Mitter

Sep 14, 2016

"It did help, since now I have certain ideas as to how to go about with my presentations. It helps not only professionals, but students too."..." more

A

Anonymous

Mar 6, 2017

"I was asked to do a presentation and really needed some guidance. Your online methods were super great and I thank you!"..." more

A

Anonymous

Dec 24, 2016

"Skipping the boring intro did change things for me. Unlike most students, mine was different. The tips helped."

AS

Alina Schmitz

Mar 28, 2017

"I am a kid in Germany and have to make a presentation in English. I think that this is a good idea."

Rated this article:

A

Anonymous

Oct 18, 2017

"What helped me the most is to get your audience in the mood and interested in your article."

AK

Anand Khakhalary

Feb 28, 2017

"It's very helpful for a person who wants to know how to start a presentation. Liked it."

EU

Eudh Ueuhd

Mar 8, 2017

"I needed a viking article and didn't know how to start it. This helped very much. "

LL

Lorna La Grange

Apr 11, 2018

"I loved the way the information is packaged and the content is very relevant!"

NZ

Nida Zahra

Jul 17, 2016

"I wanted to make my presentation and I like this technique so much. "